PEORIA (25News Now) -A Central Illinois nonprofit is helping families facing financial hardship keep their beloved pets by providing free food and supplies.
The For Keeps Project, founded in 2025, supports families by offering donated pet food and supplies in hopes of preventing owners from having to surrender their animals to local shelters.
Founder and President Elyse Rouleau said the idea came after seeing more families give up their pets simply because they could no longer afford the cost of caring for them.
Since launching, the organization has hosted about 12 clinics, serving more than 500 pets at each event.
At Sunday’s clinic, held at the Peoria Civic Center, families were able to pick up free pet food, collars, leashes, treats, and other donated supplies.
The nonprofit relies on donations and support from local shelters and pet food pantries to continue offering the clinics.
“I’m just humbled to see the amount of people that are in need of this and are grateful for this. My goal is to help people and I want to help animals. That’s my passion. said Rouleau.
Most of the donated items are for dogs and cats.
Rouleau hopes to hold the group’s next free pet supply clinic in August or September at the Fulton Parking Lot near the Peoria Civic Center.
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